Establishes the Indiana passenger rail commission to do the following: (1) Facilitate development and implementation of improvements to intercity passenger rail service in Indiana and the Midwest. (2) Coordinate interaction among federal, state, and local elected officials relating to passenger rail issues. (3) Facilitate development and implementation of long range plans for modern passenger rail service in Indiana and the Midwest. (4) Coordinate public and private sectors at the federal, state, and local levels to ensure cooperation among the various entities having an interest in passenger rail service and promote Indiana interests regarding passenger rail service. (5) Facilitate the efforts of the Indiana department of transportation and other transportation agencies involved in developing and implementing passenger rail service in Indiana and the Midwest.
Sponsored bills
Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to reimburse a children's hospital located in a state bordering Indiana for covered Medicaid services provided to a qualifying Medicaid child recipient at the same reimbursement rate at which the office reimburses a children's hospital located in Indiana.
Establishes a definition of "virtual instruction" for purposes of determining a school corporation's basic tuition support using the average daily membership (ADM).
Permits a voter who is qualified to vote in person to vote by absentee ballot. Removes all other qualifications for a voter to vote by absentee ballot except for a voter with disabilities who is unable to make a voting mark on the ballot or sign the absentee ballot secrecy envelope. (Such a disabled voter is currently required to vote before an absentee voter board.)
Prohibits a utility from discontinuing provision of water, electricity, gas, or sewer service to a residential customer: (1) while the state of disaster emergency declared by the governor with respect to COVID-19 remains in effect; and (2) during the period ending 90 days after the governor terminates the declared state of disaster emergency. Provides that the attorney general may bring an action in the name of the state to enjoin a violation of the prohibition.
Increases the minimum wage paid to certain employees in Indiana as follows: (1) After June 30, 2022, from $7.25 an hour to $10 an hour. (2) After June 30, 2023, from $10 an hour to $13 an hour. (3) After June 30, 2024, from $13 an hour to $15 an hour. Provides that after June 30, 2025, and each subsequent June 30, the hourly minimum wage increases at the same percentage as any increase in the Consumer Price Index for the preceding calendar year. Makes technical corrections and corresponding changes.
Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to reimburse for Medicaid eligible services provided to a Medicaid recipient at a hospital located in a state bordering Indiana at the same Medicaid reimbursement rate at which the office reimburses a hospital in Indiana for the service.
Provides that, except in certain circumstances, a person may not hold or use a telecommunications device while operating a moving motor vehicle. Removes prohibitions on typing, transmitting, or reading a text message or an electronic mail message while operating a moving motor vehicle. Provides that the bureau may not assess points under the point system for a violation occurring before July 1, 2021.
Provides that a student meets the residency requirements for enrollment at a public school if a parent of the student: (1) is transferred to or is pending transfer to a military installation within Indiana while on active duty pursuant to an official military order; and (2) submits to the public school certain information, including official documentation, as determined by the state board of education, regarding the transfer or pending transfer. Provides that the student is considered to have legal settlement in the attendance area of the school corporation in which the parent: (1) has submitted the required application and documentation; and (2) intends to reside. Requires a parent who is transferred to or is pending transfer to a military installation within Indiana to provide proof of residence to the public school not later than 10 instructional days after the arrival date provided on the required documentation. Provides that if the parent of the student fails to provide the proof of residence, the public school may exclude the student from attendance pending an expulsion proceeding. Makes the following changes to provisions concerning resident tuition rate eligibility for active duty armed forces personnel and dependents of active duty armed forces personnel: (1) Defines "dependent". (2) Amends the definition of "qualified course". (3) Provides that spouses of active duty armed forces personnel are eligible for the resident tuition rate. (4) Provides that spouses and dependents of active duty armed forces personnel are eligible, from the date that the state educational institution accepts the spouse or dependent for enrollment, for the resident tuition rate if the spouse or dependent enrolls in the state educational institution within a certain amount of time. (5) Provides that a dependent or spouse of a person who serves on active duty in the armed forces is eligible for the resident tuition rate for the duration of the spouse's or dependent's continuous enrollment at a state educational institution regardless of whether the person serving on active duty continues, after the spouse or dependent is accepted for enrollment in the state educational institution, to satisfy certain resident rate tuition eligibility criteria.
Requires employees and volunteers of a child care facility who may be present on the premises of the child care facility during operating hours to submit to a national criminal history background check. (Under current law, employees and volunteers who have direct contact with children must submit to a national criminal history background check.) Specifies that results of the background check may be used as grounds for denial or revocation of a child care license or registration or eligibility for a child care and development fund voucher payment. Makes technical corrections.